FR2536645A1 - Chair which can be folded up to form a walking stick. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable chair which may or may not comprise a back. The device is characterised in that it becomes a walking stick when it is folded up after use. The invention is based on a combination of three legs 1, 2, 3 of prismatic section which can pivot about two axes, producing either a tripod-type chair with a seat and back made of fabric, or a walking stick when the three legs are brought together parallel to each other. The invention provides a satisfactory solution whenever it is necessary to move between several stopping points, and may be used by fishermen, walkers, at open-air events, etc.

Description

The present invention relates to an original arrangement of a foldable seat with or without a backrest.

Generally, the so-called foldable seat is intended to reduce its space requirement to a simple plan, especially in order to save space during the period of storage or transport even if sometimes it is only a question of facilitating movement said seat.

The device which is the subject of the invention has the same advantages while further reducing the size of the seat in a filiform configuration advantageously usable as a walking stick.

Thus, the foldable seat, often used by fishermen, walkers or other visitors to parks, in the moments of parking becomes, according to the invention, no longer a discomfort, but a walking aid when traveling, walks, or visit,...

In this regard, the proposed device consists of three legs articulated two by two by means of two detached pins so that in a so-called "open" position of the seat, they validly constitute a tripod ensuring the stability of the assembly and that in another so-called "folded" position, they reconstitute an elongated cylindrical shape close to a cane barrel.

A flexible canvas, woven or not and bordered with gathered rubber, 9 is anchored on each of the three legs so that in the so-called "open" position it is stretched in a plane parallel to the plane formed by the tripod and this at a sufficient distance above the two joints to provide a comfortable seating surface.

In the "folded" position, the rubbers gather the fabric, which retracts into recesses in the seat uprights.

Two of the legs can advantageously be extended to receive a backrest in a flexible fabric woven or not and horded with gathered rubber
The backrest is obviously stretched when the seat is in the "open" position and it folds down automatically to accommodate the fabric in an evidembent provided in each of the two uprights.

Finally, two additional provisions are provided for in the "folded" position for using the cane device - the ends of the two uprights supporting the backrest are provided with half-handles forming a knob when the assembly is folded; - to keep the legs, the seat fabric and the backrest, a canvas fixed on one of the uprights comes to wind the closed assembly which it maintains by pressures or a strip of the "vel cro" type.

The invention will be better understood in the description which follows in a non-limiting and preferred configuration of the i-inventor with reference to the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 shows a view of the assembly in the open position giving a good perspective of the seat with its backrest.

- Figure 2 shows a view of the whole in a folded and closed position giving a good perspective of the cane arrangement.

- Figure 3 shows a top view of the folded cane arrangement.

- Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a particular arrangement of the backless seat; a particular and simplified execution of the device of the invention using the double articulation of the three legs.

- Figure 5 shows a view along a section (AA) (see fig.2) of the folded assembly in version without backrest (not shown).

- Figure 6 is a following section (M) of FIG. 2 showing the relative arrangements of the two axes (4) and (5) holding the three legs and allowing them to pivot in a movement indicated by the three arrows (C, D and E3 - Figure 7 is a sectional view along (BB) (see fig. 2) clearly showing that the seat and backrest fabrics (7 and 8) are enclosed inside the uprights (2 and 3) and held by the envelope (13) - Figure 8 represents l end of the leg (1) on which is articulated a piece (6) allowing the anchoring of the seat fabric (7) on the one hand, but also a seat surface in regular trapezoid.

The operation of the invention is essentially due to the prismatic shape of each leg in accordance with FIG. 6 the articulation of the legs two by two, thanks to the axes (4 and 5) sufficiently offset in height to allow their mounting, allows by sliding the faces of each leg according to a movement described by the arrows (C, D, E; form a double pyramid with a triangular base having for joint the articulation the first pyramid with a triangular base forms the seat support triangle, the pyramid with an upper triangular base receives on its base parallel to the ground the seat fabric (79 *
In order to give increased stability to the assembly, the rear leg (1) is more elongated than the two front legs (2 and 3); similarly, .it is expected that the fabric (7) for reasons of comfort and symmetry with respect to (2 and 3) has a shape of a regular trapezium whose small base is anchored at the end of the leg ( 1) on a tongue (6) pivoting thereon for its retraction at the time of folding.

In the version "with backrest", as in FIG. 1, a canvas (8) is provided anchored on the extensions of the legs (2-and 3) as uprights, moreover advantageously terminated by parts (12 a and 12 b) which form a pommel (fig. 3) when the assembly is folded into a cane shape (fig. 2). This latter arrangement is greatly facilitated since it is provided at the edge of the fabrics (7 and 8) with overstitching in elastic thread (9 and 10) coming to gather said fabrics at the time of folding.

These then come into the chute formed by the grooves (11) of each upright (2 and 3), according to an arrangement shown in section in FIG. 7.

Finally, a canvas (13) disposed on the upright (2) comes to wind the folded assembly to maintain it by means of pressures (15) or adhesive strips of the "velcro" type.

In a simplified version of the invention, reference is made to FIG. 4 a perspective view of the seat "without backrest", the functioning of the joints (4 and 5) is identical to the previous description.

The only difference lies in the ink it provides in the parts of the legs (1, 2 3,) forming the pyramid with an upper triangular base of the grooves which contain the seat fabric (7) at the time of folding.

All of the preceding descriptions have been given by way of illustration of the invention and any new arrangements or combinations of the same means for obtaining the same effects would belong to the field of the invention.

Claims (7)

 1. Device for folding a seat with or without a backrest, intended to transform said seat into a cane characterized by three legs (1,2,3) of prismatic section developing by sliding on their faces and pivoting around two axes (4 ) and (5) two triangular-based pyramids mounted head to tail 'and the base of the other is provided with a seat fabric (7) which can be accommodated by adequate means in the legs when the seat is folded, thus reconstituting a cane shape by coincidence of all the faces of the three legs.  2. Foldable seat according to claim 1 characterized in that the legs (2) and 3) can be extended upward to receive a fabric (8) capable of being retracted by suitable means in the uprights (2 and 3).  3. Means i folding of the fabrics (7 and 8) according to claims 1 and.2 characterized in that said fabrics are bordered by a gathered rubber (9 and 10) on the one hand and in that grooves (11) made in the uprights (2 and 3) retract the fabrics when folding the seat.  4. Seat fabric (7) according to claim 1 characterized in that it is anchored on the uprights (2 and 3) by known means and on the leg (1) by means of a tongue (6) articulated in end of the leg (1) and abutting thereon in a horizontal position.  5. Pivot pins (4 and 5) according to claim 1, characterized in that they allow the articulation of the legs (2 and 3) and (1 and 3) respectively they are offset; according to the height of the seat d '' a distance just sufficient to mount them.  6. Special provisions according to claim 1 characterized in that when the seat is folded into a cane, the assembly is wound in a fabric (13) fixed by known means such as pressures, etc ...  7. Legs (2 and 3) in the device comprising a backrest according to claim 1, characterized in that they comprise, at the end, curved pieces in the form of half-handles so that in position fold them back they form the pommel of the corresponding rod, the two half-handles being made integral by a retaining clip.